Wishing-well type coin collector



July 11, 1961 E. BLOCK WISI-IING-WELL TYPE COIN COLLECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 11, 1960 July 11, 1961 E. l.. BLOCK wIsHING-WELL TYPE com COLLECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 1l, 1960 July 11, 1961 EL L. BLOCK 2,991,932

wIsHING-WELL TYPE COIN COLLECTOR Filed May 1l, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 1N V EN TOR.

July 11, 1961 E. L. BLOCK wIsI-IING-WELL TYPE com COLLECTOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May ll, 1960 IN V EN TOR. Wam/'dl @Zoe/ United States Patent Oiice 2,991,932 Patented July 11, 1961 2,991,932 WISHING-WELL TYPE COIN COLLECTOR Edward L. Block, 1016 Hollywood Ave., lChicago 40, Ill. Filed May 11, 1960, Ser. No. 28,426

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 23243.2)

This invention relates to improvements in coin coliection devices and in particular to one Iin which the coin s dropped into -an open top cabinet which is highly adaptable to -being m-ade in the form of an independent, attractive article of furniture.

Ihis invention may be constructed of wood or of light metal to match the type of furniture with which it maybe associated.

This invention has for its object to provide a suitable size open top cabinet which possesses the configuration of an enclosure around a well, the enclosure being an imitation well housing with a hand operated windlass consisting of a horizontal cylinder turned by a crank, upon which a rope winds, the free end of the rope depending into the opening of the housing.

IThis invention has for another object to provide a device representing a wishing-well, the wishing-well bearing a'religious, or other inscription thereon which creates interest in the aspect of the simulated well and the inscription thereon whereby the observer will have a distinct mental inclination toward the doing, obtaining, attaining of something, or an expression of a wish, often one of a kindly or courteous nature, and to obtain the same the observer will drop a coin, or the like, into the simulated well, the observer knowing the coin will be used for charity, or other -almsgiving or public relief or unfortunate or needy persons, the observer leaving the well with a feeling of benevolence.

This invention has for a still further object to provide a device to be installed in public places by benevolent societies for collection of funds for the needy, the device being a simulated well of rectangular configuration and of simple and practical construction, which is neat and -attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise Well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings 4forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a simulated well showing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 2--2 of FIG. 8, some parts appearing in full lines;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 3 3 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 4 ,is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional View;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view through the roof of the simulated well shown by FIG. 1;

FIGURE 7 is a -rear perspective view of the invention shown by FIG. 1;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan view of the invention shown by FIG. 1;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of inner receptacle assembly embodied within the simulated well clearly shown by FIGURES 2 and 3;

v FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the inscription panel assembly embodied as part of this invention;

FIGURE 11 is a modied form of this invention vas disclosed by FIG. 2;

FIGURE 12 is a modified form of this invention as disclosed by FIG. 3;

FIGURE 13 is a modified form of the invention Vas disclosed by FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary View showing a portion of FIGURE 2 with the receptacle partially removed from the well housing, and the water tray partially removed from the receptacle.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of this invention, the numeral 15 designating a simulated well, sometimes referred to as a wishing-well. The Well 15l includes a base 16 from which two side walls 17 and 18, a -front Wall 19 and rear wall 20 rise forming the housing 25 with a central opening 26 therein; and parts 21 and 22 rise from within the housing 25 and above the coping 23, or top frame, to support a roof 27. The roof consists of cross members 28 and two sides 29 and 30 with gable ends 31 and 32, the cross members 28 at each end of the gable roof 27 being pivotally mounted upon horizontal pins 33 and 34 extending outwardly from the upper end portions of posts 21 and 22. A hand-operated windlass 24 is rotatably supported at the upper portion of the posts intermediate said roof 27 and the coping 23 for winding a rope 35 upon the cylindrical surface thereof, the one free end 36 of the lrope 35 extending downwardly through the central opening 26 of the well, an imitation bucket (not shown) can be attached if it is so desired. The roof and walls of the housing 25 are covered with redwood shingles, the front wall 19 is also covered with simulated vines 37 to make the well appear more realistic.

The rear wall 20 embodies a door opening, or panel opening 38, closed by removable door, o-r panel 40, shown lby FIGURE 7. An electric current female outlet 39 is mounted in the rear wall 20. The sides of the openings 38 are spaced inwardly from the side walls of the housing. The door 40 embodies a locking means 41 for securing the same in sealed position to prevent unauthorized entrance into said housing 25,. v

The windlass 24, as shown clearly by FIGURES 1 and 7, consists of a drum 45 rigidly secured upon a cylindrical bar 46 which extends through horizontal bores 47 and 48 in posts 21 and 22. A crank 49 is rigidly secured to one end of the bar 46, representing the crank employed on a real well for operation by a user.

The coping, or frame 23, extends entirely around the central opening 26 of housing 25. The coping 23 above the front wall of the housing. 25 is formed with an aperture 50 over which is mounted a poem retainer means 51 embodying transparent top and bottom walls 52 and 53, respectively.

When an electric light bulb 54 is emitting light within the housing, the light shines up through the bottom plate 53 so the printed message of the poem can be clearly read by a person. Upon the coping over the rear wall 20 is mounted a picture fname 55 within which is arranged a religious picture, or sofme other suitable picture. Within the frame 55, between the picture and rear wall thereof an electric light bulb 56 is assembled so that light from the bulb will show through the picture from the rear side thereof. 'llhe source of electric current used by bulbs 54 and 56 can be carried by wires 57 connected with parts in the metal switch box 58 assembled adjacent outlet 39, shown by FIG. -12.

The posts 21 and 22 are rigidly secured to the side walls 17 Iand 18 by post retainers 59, see FIG. 5, said retainers having square apertures 42 vertically formed 3 therein; the post fastened in the aperture 42 by screw 43, and the retainer secured to the side walls by screws 44.

Referring especially to FIGURES 2, 3, 9 and 14, numeral 60 represents a receptacle'with cleats 61 slidably resting upon guides 62 attached horizontallyand longitudinally upon the side walls 17 and 18 of the housing 25, said guides 62 extending downwardly from the coping 23. The guides 62 are connected at their forward ends by horizontally formed stop-pieces 63 to prevent the receptacle from contacting the front wall 19. The receptacle `60 is formed with full-height front wall 65, full-height rear wall 66, full-height side walls 67 and 68 and closed bottom wall 70. The front wall 65, shown by FIG. 2, isformed with coin slot 69 horizontally arranged at Va short distance above the bottom wall 70. A transparent plate 71 is diagonally Iarranged between the front wall 65 and rear wall 66, and in sealing contact with side walls 67 and 68. The forward horizontal edge portion of said plate 71 is provided with an extension to contact the lower edge portion of said coin slot; the rear horizontal edge portion of said plate 71 rests against the rear wall 66 adjacent the top edge portion thereof. 'Phe plate 71 provides a sliding surface whereby coins deposited thereon will slide forwardly and downwardly and through the coin slot. The side walls 67 and 68 are shorter in longitudinal dimension than the side walls 17 and `18 of the withdrawn from the receptacle 60 by grasping the handle 83 thereon and applying outward force thereto. It is clearly seen that when the door 40 is locked in place with Ithe rear wall 20 of the housing 25 it is impossible to withdraw the receptacle 60 tand/or the tray 85 from the housing, and :further prevents anyone from removing the coins 82- from the box 81 arranged below the coin chute 75.

A modified form of this invention is shown by FIG- URES 11, 12 and 13. The construction of the housing land receptacle 60 is the same; however, the receptacle 60 is inserted in the reverse position, the coin chute 75 being located in the rearward compar-tment 73 adjacent the door 20. The coin box 81 is placed beneath the coin chute adjacent the rear door 40. This provides easier access to the coin box, after removal of the door 40. How( ever, the entire receptacle must be removed from the housing 25 in order to remove tray 85 for cleaning or replacing the water 91 therein. By this arrangement, as shown b y FIGURES l1, l2 and 13, whenever a coin is dropped upon the plate 71, the person in front of the well will observe the coin passing through the coin slot 69. The arrangement 4as shown by FIG. 2 substantially conceals the disappearance of the coin through the slot 69 as it is in housing 25. The receptacle 60 is centrally located between the front vand rear walls 65 and 66; the space between the front wall 65 and front wall 19 provides a 'forward compartment 72, and the space between the rear wall 66 and rear wall 20 provides a rearward compart-` ment 73 within the housing 25.

Upon the forward wall 65 is rigidly secured a coin chute 75, said chute 75 embodying an end wall 76, a front wall 77 spaced from the front wall 65 of the re' ceptacle, a depending triangular shaped partial wall 78 spaced from said Wall 77 land extending vertically down# ward below and in a vertical plane of the wall 65 of said receptacle. A rectangular shaped bottom panel 79 closes the lower portion of said chute 75, the panel 79 being angularly positioned to form a sliding surface for coins sliding down plate 71 and through the coin slot 69, the coins leaving the chute 75 through the open end portion 80 thereof. The chute 75 extends into the forward compartment 72 and spaced rearwardly `from the front wall 19. A coin collector box 81 is placed upon the inside oor portion of base 16 and Iarranged directly below the open end 80 of the chute 75; the box 81 being periodically removed to empty the coins 82 therefrom which have fallen therein from chute 75. The rear wall 66 of the receptacle is provided with a water tray opening 85 of rectangular configuration, said opening being horizontal and transversely arranged adjacent the bottom wall 70, the lower edge portion of opening 85 being on a level with the upper surface of bottom wall 70 thereof. A water tray 85 is employed with said receptacle 60, said tray 85 having a bottom panel 86 substantially the same size -as the bottom wall 70 of said receptacle, said tray provided with a front wall 87, a rear wall 88, and side walls 89 and 90, said walls being substantially low vertical walls and forming a shallow tray 85, the height of the tray being slightly less than the height of the water tray opening 84, said tray 85 normally resting upon the bottom wall 70 of the receptacle, yand is partially filled with water 91. When `an observer looks downwardly into the simulated well through the transparent plate 71, he sees the water 91 in the tray 85 and thinks the water is real surface water in a real well. The receptacle 60 is provided with a handle 92 secured to the exterior wall surface of wall 65. The front wall 87 of tray 85 is provided with a handle 83. The operator can withdraw the receptacle 460 from the housing 25 by grasping the handle 92 and pulling outwardly therewith, the outward portion being shown by FIG. 14. The tray 85 can be the front wall of the receptacle directly below the coping 23; substantially out of vision of the donor of the coin. Since the construction of the parts is the same, like nu; metals are given to the like parts in FIGURES 1l, 12 and 13.

The electrical circuits furnishing light to the poem re# tainer 51 and picture frame 55 form no important of this invention and detail as to the wiring of the c1r. cuits has been omitted.

It is evident, therefore, that I have provided a wishing well which can be installed in public places by benevolent societies and the like, for collection of funds for the needy, the device being a simulated well of rectangular configuration. When a coin is deposited in the Well, it appears to be thrown into the water; however, it slides down the transparent plate, through the coin slot, into the coin chute and drops into a collection box. 1

lt is also evident that I have provided a coin collection device of simplified construction and one which may be installed in public places, or easily removed therefrom and transferred to other locations.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in prac; tice various alterations therein may bemade, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim as my invention: t

A simulated well housing of rectangular configuration free of earth water supplying means having a closed base, vertical side walls, a vertical front wall and a verticalv rear wall, said housing having an opening in the top thereof for the deposit of coins, a receptacle of rectangular configuration having -an opening in its top, said receptacle being slidably mounted within said housing horizontally and longitudinally below said opening in said housing and upon means attached to said side walls of said housing, said opening in said receptacle being in vertical alignment with said opening in said housing, a removable water tray, said receptacle having front, rear. and side walls closed at its base by a bottom wall, a transverse opening in said rear wall of said receptacle for the reception of said water tray therethrough and supported by said bottom wall thereof, an inclined transparent plate arranged in said receptacle beneath said openings in said housing and said receptacle and dividing said receptacle into a simulated water chamber below the transparent plate and a coin receiving compartment atA the opposite side of said plate, whereby Water contained in said water tray is visible through said diagonal plate, and coins dropped into said receptacle are assumed to` fall into water but are instead stopped by said plate and directed downwardly and forwardly, and said housingV having a receptacle removal opening in said rear wall thereof, ysaid receptacle having `a water tray removal opening in said rear wall thereof, said front wall of said receptacle formed with a transverse coin slot arranged a short distance above said bottom wall thereof and adjacent the lower transverse horizontal edge portion of said transparent plate whereby coins sliding longitudinally and downwardly on said plate will pass through said coin slot in said front W-all thereof, a coin chute attached transversely to said receptacle adjacent said coin slot in said front wall thereof, said chute embodying a chute end wall, a chute front wall spaced from the front wall of said receptacle, a depending triangular shaped partition wall spaced from said chute front wall and extending vertically downwardly below and in a vertical plane of said receptacle front Wall, a rectangular shaped bottom panel closing the lower portion of said chute, said panel being iangul'arly fand downwardly positioned and forming a sliding transverse surface whereby the coins sliding longitudinally on 'said plate 4in said receptacle will slide through said coin slot and then transversely in said chute, a coin collector box arranged upon the base ofl References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.`189,023 Block Oct. 18, 1960 226,158 Cary Apr. 6, 1880 297,966 Brennan May 6, 1884 486,111 Krepps Nov. 15, 1892 1,570,419 Wolkenhauer Jan. 19, 1926 

